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Match preview: Port Adelaide vs Adelaide

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10th May, 2019
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Port Adelaide faces off against Adelaide in this Round 8 match-up.

Where and when
Adelaide Oval, Saturday May 11, 7.10pm ACST.

Last time they met
Adelaide Oval, Round 20, 2018: Port Adelaide 14.9 (93) lost to Adelaide 13.18 (96).

Crows forward Josh Jenkins – currently out of the side – kicked a controversial match-winning goal that appeared to graze the goalpost.

Power star Robbie Gray, who is sidelined with a broken hand, collected his fourth Showdown medal after booting four goals.

What it means for Port Adelaide
The seventh-placed Power (4-3) will be desperate for a strong response after a disappointing 39-point loss against Collingwood last Friday night. They will have to start better after conceding seven goals in the first quarter.

There are no late changes yet so the ins for Port include Matthew Broadbent, Steven Motlop, Aidyn Johnson and Kane Farrell who replace Riley Bonner (omitted), Ollie Wines (injured), Brad Ebert (injured) and Zak Butters (omitted).

What it means for Adelaide
After moving into the top eight for the first time this season, the sixth-placed Crows (4-3) will look to notch their fourth win on the trot and continue to build their momentum. No late changes either yet so the only in is Luke Brown for an injured Bryce Gibbs.

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Port Adelaide’s Keys to the game
To keep it simple, The Power have to take the game on at all costs, play with aggression and convert their opportunities once they get inside the 50m arc.

Adelaide’s Keys to the game
To also keep it simple, the contested ball is king for the Crows. They’ve got the midfield weapons to win the territory battle and then it’s about locking the ball in their forward half and building pressure.

Fun-Fact
The Crows hold a slender 23-22 advantage heading into Showdown 46, having won six of the past seven meetings between South Australia’s two AFL clubs. Last year’s two games were decided by less than a goal with the honours shared.

The clash-up

Tom Clurey vs Taylor Walker
It’s another big challenge for Walker after he couldn’t get away from Fremantle’s Alex Pearce last weekend. Clurey’s been the Power’s best defender this year. He’s up 34 spots in the AFL Player Ratings, to 241st overall, while Walker has risen 13 spots in the past fortnight, currently sitting at 105th.

It’s Crunchtime for Scott Lycett
One of the Power’s big off-season signings, Lycett had his colours lowered against Collingwood’s All-Australian ruckman Brodie Grundy last week. He’s got the edge in experience over Crows counterpart Reilly O’Brien, but the Adelaide big man is full of confidence after a great game against the Dockers.

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Big call
This will be another Showdown classic with Travis Boak to kick the match-winner inside the final two minutes.

Prediction
Power by four points.

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